Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Welcome to Canada!

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 28, 2011) - You've made Canada your new home and are probably in the process of searching for a place of your own. Looking for a home can be a very exciting experience that can be both rewarding and challenging.
As Canada's national housing agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been providing Canadians – including new Canadians like you – with information and tools to help you make informed homeownership decisions.
Canada's population growth is becoming increasingly reliant upon immigration. In the 2006 Census, close to six million Canadians identified themselves as immigrants, representing about 20 per cent of the entire Canadian population.
To help new Canadians make informed housing-related decisions and find safe, affordable homes for their families, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has developed a multi-language one-stop online source for housing-related information. Visit CMHC at www.cmhc.ca/newcomers.
CMHC wants to provide newcomers to Canada with relevant and culturally appropriate housing-related information. A wealth of information is available for newcomers in both official languages – English and French – as well as in Mandarin/Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog and Urdu.
This housing-related information is divided into three areas to make things simpler: Renting an apartment - for most newcomers, your first home will likely be a rented house or apartment. Renting a home should provide you with a safe place where you can begin to adjust to your new life in Canada. It can also give you the time to look for a home to buy without feeling pressured into making a quick decision; Buying a home - CMHC has created a series of guides and tools that take you through the home buying process; and Looking after your home – which will help guide you on how to take care of your home and prevent problems before they happen. Don't forget to also check out the videos on buying, renting and renovating a home.
For more information or for FREE information on other aspects of renting, buying and renovating a home in Canada, visit www.cmhc.ca/newcomers. For 65 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has been Canada's national housing agency and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.

Contact Information

For story ideas or to access CMHC experts or expertise
CMHC Media Relations - National Office
(613) 748-2799
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca


 

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Total complete Federal Skilled Worker (SW1) applications received since June 26, 2010

Image via WikipediaOn June 26, 2010, the eligibility criteria for Federal Skilled Worker applicants changed.
Between June 26, 2010, and June 30, 2011, a maximum of 20,000 complete Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing. Within the 20,000 cap, a maximum of 1,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing within this same time frame.
These limits do not apply to applications with an offer of arranged employment (job offer).
Applications received toward the overall cap: 2,988 of 20,000 as of October 29, 2010

Applications received per eligible occupation:

Eligible Occupation (by National Occupational Classification [NOC] code)	Number of Complete Applications Received*
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers	116
0811 Primary Production Managers (except Agriculture)	29
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management	900
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners	40
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists	141
2151 Architects	165
3111 Specialist Physicians	126
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians	157
3113 Dentists	197
3131 Pharmacists	260
3142 Physiotherapists	55
3152 Registered Nurses	405
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists	8
3222 Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists	4
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses	18
4151 Psychologists	37
4152 Social Workers	81
6241 Chefs	17
6242 Cooks	44
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades	19
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades	53
7241 Electricians (except Industrial and Power System)	32
7242 Industrial Electricians	36
7251 Plumbers	8
7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators	7
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics	14
7371 Crane Operators	0
7372 Drillers and Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction	2
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service	17

*The number of complete Federal Skilled Worker applications received as of October 29, 2010, is approximate.
NOTE: Because application intake fluctuates, these figures are meant as a guide only. There is no guarantee that an application sent in now will fall within the cap.

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BC PNP APPLICATION PROCESS Business Skills, Fast-Track

Image via WikipediaThe BC PNP is a provincial immigration program which is operated in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The specific program we will describe below is known as the “Business Skills” program and is suitable for investment in the GVRD or Abbotsford. Applicants can be fast-tracked if a client is willing to deposit $125,000 interest free with the province after nomination. The deposit is refundable in full when the client satisfies the terms of the PNP program.

Compared to the Federal Investor Program, the BC PNP business programs typically offer a number of advantages, including early entry in Canada on a work permit, control over investor dollars and flexible qualification criteria.


The general requirements of the program include:

• Confirmation of a personal net worth of at least $800,000.00
• An minimum investment in a BC business of $400,000.00 (existing business or start-up)
• The investment must create three full time jobs in the business
• You must actively participate in the management of the business
• You must demonstrate enough unencumbered funds to make the investment
• You must own at least 33.3% of the voting and non-redeemable shares in the business

The Investment

The general guidelines regarding the $400,000 investment are flexible, but must still conform to a number of rules, including:

• A maximum of $267,000 of the $400,000 investment (2/3) can be attributed to the purchase of shares. You may purchase shares for more than this amount but will only get credit for $267,000.
• Investments in real-property are generally not credited except for in unique situation
• The balance of the investment may be used for items such as equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, patents, promotion/marketing, professional/start-up fees and start-up wage
• The business investment has to be reasonable and make good commercial sense

A Regional Program exists for clients wishing to invest outside of the GVRD or Abbotsford, but still in BC. The requirements under the Regional Program are half of the Business Skills program, i.e., $400,000 net worth and a $200,000 investment and at least one full-time job created.

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Chinese immigrants set up business

Image via Wikipedia By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN


Wang Zhu and Jie Yu of Shanghai, China, came to Fredericton two years ago on skilled-worker permits and found employment as cooks in a local restaurant.

Enlarge Photo

Stephen MacGillivray photo

Jie Yu, left, and Wang Zhu are shown inside the new Panda restaurant at the City Motel. They became landed immigrants through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program.

Now the two professionally training chefs are landed immigrants in Canada and opening their own restaurant here.
They're the kind of immigrant entrepreneurs the capital needs, said Susan Holt, president of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
"Immigrant entrepreneurs are extremely important for Fredericton," she said Thursday at the Panda restaurant's pre-opening special at the City Motel at 1216 Regent St. for local business development experts and guests.
"Our demographics show that our population isn't growing itself.
"The way for New Brunswick and Fredericton to succeed is to attract these immigrants and then help them be successful."
The chamber operates an immigrant entrepreneur mentorship program that helps new businessmen such as Zhu and Yu learn the business ropes in this city.
The mentorship program is two years old and there are 16 people in the program, including Zhu and Yu. There were 10 businesses in the program last year.
"We've had conversations with the owners here and they've gotten off to a great start already," said Holt.
"Doing business in Canada is different from doing business in other parts of the world."
Chamber mentors will help the new restaurant owners with marketing and getting familiar with the local customer base, she said.
Holt said the goal is to grow the market for everyone.
"As our population grows, as we get more immigrants here, I think there are lots of opportunities for everyone to be successful," she said.
"Those who take up the challenge and start their own business are really contributing to the Fredericton economy and that is why the chamber executes the business immigrant mentorship program to help them be successful here so that we can really reap the benefit of their presence."
Yu said he was happy to be opening a restaurant in Fredericton and thanked everyone for coming Thursday.
"I think this is a beautiful city," he said.
"I really like it here."
Speaking through an interpreter, he said he learned about Fredericton through an immigration consultant in China that was promoting the capital.
With a population of 19 million, Shanghai is a lot bigger than Fredericton.
Yu said Fredericton is clean and friendly. His wife and daughter have visited him and applied to immigrate here. They have returned to China for now because his wife is a teacher there.
Lei Wang, an international student at the University of New Brunswick, is co-owner of the restaurant and said the restaurant will be offering authentic Chinese food.
He said the restaurant will specialize in dim sum, a Cantonese dish that usually includes steamed buns, dumplings and rice noodle rolls containing ingredients such as beef, chicken, pork, prawns and vegetables.
"I think a lot of people, a lot of Canadian, are going to like it," he said.
New Brunswick Finance Minister and former minister responsible for the Population Growth Secretariat Greg Byrne also dropped by the restaurant pre-opening to offer his well wishes.
"The business entrepreneur program is a great program of the Population Growth Secretariat," he said.
"It is certainly one of our priorities as government to bring people to New Brunswick, to tell people what New Brunswick has to offer."
He said Zhu and Yu have received many awards for their work as chefs and are well positioned to be successful here.
"We are proud that you choose Fredericton as a place to operate a business and that you choose New Brunswick as a place to live," said Byrne.

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Canada’s trade deficit moves to surplus

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Ottawa — The Canadian Press Published on Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010 8:52AM EDT Last updated on Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010 11:43AM EDT

Canada’s merchandise exports declined one per cent while imports fell 2.2 in April.
Statistics Canada says the declines were the result of lower prices.
The agency reports export and import volumes rose for a third straight month, though at a slower pace than in the previous two months.
Canada’s trade balance with the world went to a surplus of $175-million in April from a deficit of $236-million in March.
Exports decreased to $32.9-billion in April from $33.3-billion in March.
Export prices fell 1.4 per cent while volumes grew 0.4.

Industrial goods and materials accounted for three-quarters of the decline in exports. Widespread gains in exports of machinery and equipment moderated the overall decrease.
Following two months of growth, imports declined from $33.5-billion in March to $32.8-billion in April, as import prices fell 2.4 per cent and volumes grew 0.2 per cent.
Statscan says the decrease in overall imports in April reflected declines in industrial goods and materials and, to a lesser extent, in other consumer goods, and machinery and equipment.
Exports to the United States rose 0.7 per cent while imports grew 0.9. As a result, Canada's trade surplus with the United States remained at $3.8-billion in April.
Exports to countries other than the United States declined 5.5 per cent, largely the result of a 23.4 per cent decline in exports to the European Union. Imports fell seven per cent, led by decreases in precious metals from the European Union.
Consequently, Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States narrowed to $3.6-billion in April from $4-billion in March.

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Wealthy Chinese flock to the West

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By Chris Hogg BBC Shanghai Correspondent

Growing numbers of rich Chinese are applying for permanent residency in Western countries under programmes that allow investors with a high net worth to "buy" citizenship.

The number of Chinese investors granted permanent residency in Canada has doubled in two years.
Ottawa has now halted all applications to its federal immigrant investor programme while it consults on plans to double the funds needed to obtain a visa.
Applicants are still allowed to apply to a scheme run by the province of Quebec, however,
And at seminars run by visa consultancy firms in China, advisers are encouraging people to apply for the scheme before Quebec also doubles its minimum requirements to match the federal government's proposals.
Cash and experience

  The average age is 40 to 45, says visa consultant Vincent Chen

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, in a conference room at a five-star Shanghai hotel, more than 30 potential "investor applicants" arrive to hear how they might be able to exchange their cash for a foreign passport.
Many are in their 30s. There are several young couples. Most are professionals. Few are dressed smartly. They appear to be a pretty average cross-section of Shanghai's moneyed middle class.
They are shown a video that the visa company has made to promote Canada, and the country's visa application service.
"You don't have to worry about integrating," the video's commentary declares. "You don't even need to speak English."
Then the advisers go through the detail.
The Quebec scheme requires applicants to show they have a net worth of C$800,000 (US$776,000; £502,000) and they must invest up to C$400,000.
They also need to show they have had two years' experience in management.
Different requirements That's considerably cheaper, they point out, than the UK, which requires investors to invest £1m ($1.5m) for five years.

 

There are pros and cons of each of the countries' schemes.
Canada's applications currently take about two-and-a-half years, but the financial requirements are the lowest in the world.
The United States requires applicants to invest up to $1m (£646,000) in a business that creates at least 10 new jobs. Applications take up to one-and-a-half years.
The UK's application process is the quickest. It can be completed in just three months, according to the visa consultants at the seminar, and there is no interview.
But it is also the most costly.
"Usually, the applicants are business owners or senior managers," explains Vincent Chen, senior consultant for the Visa Consulting Group.
"The average age is 40 to 45, but it's getting younger."
Easily achievable Canada has not changed its "immigrant investor" programme requirements since 1991.

  Some just want the passport before they move back to China

"Back then, C$800,000 was a huge amount," Mr Chen says.
"But now, with the increases in property prices in cities like Shanghai, people don't think it's that hard to achieve.
"That's why you've seen the numbers granted permanent residency have doubled."
Other factors are also at work here.
Increasingly, those who come to the seminars have friends who have already emigrated.

Reasons to move
David Lu, 38, a manager in a telecommunications company, has come to the seminar to find out more about how to apply to move to Canada.

End Quote Dr Wang Huiyao Centre for China and Globalisation

At the end of the session he starts filling in the forms eagerly.
He has positive reasons to move. Some of his relatives already live in Canada. And during holidays there he has enjoyed the lower pollution levels there.
Also, he says, the Canadians are "a lot more relaxed" than the Chinese.
There are other reasons though why he wants to leave China.
"People hate you [here] if you have money, and the rich bully the poor," he says.
"Another issue for me is health care," he adds.
"I don't think anyone interested in moving abroad would worry about the costs. We want their better quality medical care."

Brain drain
Fabio Xu, 30, runs a paint company in Shanghai.
He says he wants to move to the US "because of the better medical care there, and better educational opportunities for my child".
"In China, all my money goes on my mortgage, food, clothing and travel," he says, "but in the States there's generally more freedom. I would be able to develop myself more creatively and get more out of life."
Some Chinese academics worry that China is losing its brightest and most able citizens, as well as huge amounts of money.
Last year 1,823 investors were granted citizenship in Canada under the immigrant investor programme.
Even if they had only invested the minimum amount required, that would mean almost US$700m had been taken out of the country.
"China is losing the talent it really needs," says Dr Wang Huiyao, the director general of the Centre for China and Globalisation.
"As China tries to develop its economy and change it from 'made in China' to 'created in China', it needs these people to build the country."
In touch with China Dr Wang believes many people want a foreign passport because it is so hard to travel freely around the world on Chinese documents.
Indeed, one woman at the seminar is anxious to know how quickly she could get her Canadian passport, so she could return home to China.
For her it appears the motivation is not to get a new home abroad, but to obtain a passport that might make life more convenient.
A Western diplomat in Shanghai offers another explanation for the increase in these kinds of visa applications.
The internet, he says, means you can live abroad, but never leave China.
"You can wake up in the morning and browse the People's Daily online over breakfast. You can trade your stocks on the Shanghai exchange with the click of a mouse," he says.
"You can chat all day to relatives for free on Skype, or run your business remotely."
His point is that emigration is no longer necessarily the emotional wrench that it once was for people.
The need to assimilate in their adopted country for practical reasons is not as great as it once was - which in itself could yet pose its own challenges for Western societies.

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Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management - NOC 1122

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Professionals who provide business services to management are on the list of 29 eligible occupations under the Federal Skilled Worker program.

To find out if you qualify for a Canadian immigration (permanent resident) visa please fill out our free eligibility assessment.

This group includes those who provide services to management such as analyzing the operations, managerial methods or functions of an organization in order to propose, plan and implement improvements, or analyzing advertising needs and developing appropriate advertising plans. They are employed by management consulting firms, advertising agencies and throughout the public and private sectors or are self-employed.

(Description from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's National Occupation Classification, used by Canadian immigration officers, to assess an applicant's work experience.)

Management consultants perform some or all of the following duties:

• Analyze and provide advice on the managerial methods and organization of a public or private sector establishment
• Conduct research to determine efficiency and effectiveness of managerial policies and programs
• Conduct assessments and propose improvements to methods, systems and procedures in areas such as operations, human resources, records management and communications
• Conduct quality audits and develop quality management and quality assurance standards for ISO (International Organization for Standardization) registration
• Plan the reorganization of the operations of an establishment
• May supervise contracted researchers or clerical staff.

Advertising and promotion consultants perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assess characteristics of products or services to be promoted and advise on the advertising needs of an establishment
• Advise clients on advertising or sales promotion strategies
• Develop and implement advertising campaigns appropriate for print or electronic media.

Why your employment prospects in Canada are excellent:

• This group includes those who provide services to management such as analyzing the operations, managerial methods or functions of an organization in order to propose, plan and implement improvements, or analyzing advertising needs and developing appropriate advertising plans.
• They are employed by management consulting firms, advertising agencies and throughout the public and private sectors or are self-employed.
• The growing trend toward globalization and the evolving technical revolution have forced many companies to hire professionals in these fields in order to stay competitive with changing business practices.
• This occupation is only regulated in Alberta.

Some areas of Canada where your occupation is in demand:

While there is a shortage of Professionals in Occupations in Business Services to Management across Canada, the following cities and provinces listed below have a particularly high demand for this occupation.

British Columbia

• Employment prospects are considered to be good throughout the province.
• While projected new jobs between 2010 and 2015 is predicted at 1,790 and job vacancies due to retirements during the same period is estimated at 2,470.

Manitoba

• Employment prospects are expected to be good in the 2010-2014 period.
• Most employment opportunities will arise as a result of turnover (especially retirements later in the forecast period), and the mobility between companies.
• Jobs in this occupational group are available across the Province, although approximately 77% are located in Winnipeg.

New Brunswick
Fredericton, Woodstock, Grand Falls, Edmundston, New Brunswick:

• Employment prospects are good in these local areas.
• A large government presence, and a number of national, regional, and local firms create considerable consulting opportunities.
• Subcontracting services, such as advertising, is becoming increasingly popular and will be creating more opportunities for advertising account executives and promotion specialists.
• The majority of job opportunities in this occupation will be a result of attrition.
• For consultants, those individuals who have experience or knowledge of new management theories and practices, and those skilled in computerized management tools may have an advantage over others seeking employment in this field.
• For advertising account executives and promotion specialists, job opportunities will be greater for those skilled in utilizing the types of media outlets used to reach a diverse customer base.
• This occupation is classified as "significant" because there is a large percentage of professional occupations in business services to management working within the area and it is a strategically important occupation to the local labour market.

Moncton, Shediac, Sackville, Richibucto, New Brunswick:

• Employment prospects are good in these local areas.
• A large government presence, and a number of national, regional, and local firms create considerable consulting opportunities.
• Subcontracting services, such as advertising, is becoming increasingly popular and will be creating more opportunities for advertising account executives and promotion specialists.
• The majority of job opportunities in this occupation will be a result of attrition.
• Potential employment include: AL-PACK ENTERPRISES LTD, Apropos Marketing Communications Inc., Economical Mutual Insurance Co., Foresight Marketing & Design LTD., Hawk Communications Inc. and Grand & Toy.

Saint John, Sussex, St. Stephen, New Brunswick:

• Employment prospects are good in these local areas.
• Potential employers include: Credico Marketing, Entreprise Saint John, Irving Oil Ltd., NB Milk Marketing, and Charlotte County Development Corporation Inc.

Ontario

• Employment prospects over the next 5 years are considered to be good.
• Consulting and freelance work are areas of growth within this occupation.

Ottawa Region, Ontario:

• Employment opportunities are good for this occupation and will continue to rise.
• Factors contributing to these excellent conditions include changing management concepts and increased productivity as a response to international competition. Corporate structure and work organization methods have also changed, with a corresponding growth in sub-contracting.
• In addition, an aging workforce, anticipated skill shortages and competition for workers have lead to a strong demand by companies for workers in this occupation group.
• According to the most recent census, about one third of people in this occupation in eastern Ontario were over 55 years of age. As a result, a large number of people will be retiring over the next 5 years leaving a significant amount of jobs needed to be filled.
• Potential employers include: Adirondack Information Management, Aramark Canada, Athena Consulting, Dare Human Resources Corporation, Alco Systems Inc., Horizons Renaissance Inc., and Infield Marketing Group 

 Source: canadavisa.com

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Eligibility criteria for federal skilled worker applications

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Under changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, federal skilled worker applications are assessed for eligibility according to the criteria listed below. Note: This does not apply to applicants intending to live in the province of Quebec.
These criteria affect you only if you applied on or after June 26, 2010. If your application was received before June 26, 2010, it will be processed according to the rules that were in effect at that time.

  If you are applying under one of the 29 eligible occupations, as of June 26, 2010, a maximum of 20,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing in the following 12 months. Within the 20,000 cap, a maximum of 1,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing each year.

These limits do not apply to applications with an offer of arranged employment.
For your application to be eligible for processing, you must include the results of your official language proficiency test, and either:

• have a valid offer of arranged employment, OR
• be a skilled worker who has had one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time paid work experience in at least one of the following eligible occupations within the last ten years:

0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
NOTE: the occupations above are all Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.

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Workers look abroad as Dubai slows down

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by Sarmad Khan.

DUBAI // Six years of unabated growth at breakneck speed, fuelled by high oil revenues and an unprecedented rise in the property and construction sector made Dubai a destination of choice for ambitious people. Property marketing wizards, geniuses who reinvented the term “fast-track” in the construction sector, bankers, professionals in retail and hospitality, and even researchers and academicians all had one goal: be here and be part of an incredible success story.

But the days of pulling strings to grab a corner office in a Dubai International Financial Centre investment bank, or be the top man of a property firm selling projects worth billions of dirhams without even putting a shovel in the ground, are a distant memory.

Having updated their resume and business card  some of the expatriate talent
who had called the UAE home during the boom years were rather unceremoniously made to leave when the contraction hit the economy with real
force in the last quarter of 2008. Some of those who survived the mass redundancies are now looking elsewhere, to Singapore, Hong Kong or even
a return to Europe or the Americas.

Does that mean the UAE is facing a real threat of brain drain? Immigration consultants and executive placement experts think so.

There has been a “substantial increase” in the number of cases filed by expatriates living in the UAE to migrate to countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand since the financial crisis hit the Gulf.

“There has always been a global demand for immigration, but it is more so now in the UAE since the beginning of last year. Expatriates opting to immigrate feel insecure about long-term prospects of their jobs and financial security here,” says Sony Nellissery, the resident director at Aries International, an immigration consultancy firm in Dubai.

Expatriates from all sectors of the economy are interested in migration, but construction professionals are perhaps more enthusiastic than others.

The construction and property sector and record high oil prices were the primary drivers of the UAE’s 7.4 per cent growth in GDP in 2008. However, construction projects, both commercial and residential, estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars have either been suspended, shelved or scaled down since the beginning of last year in response to virtually non-existent project finance.

There is no official data available on how many people have lost jobs since the last quarter of 2008, but economists say tens of thousands of positions disappeared as developers and construction contractors had to adjust to painful market realities. Shuaa Capital, the UAE’s largest investment bank, said in a report last week it expected the population of Dubai to contract by 3.6 per cent this year.

Some countries, such as Canada, have cut the time for processing immigration applications from two to three years to about a year, which, the consultants say, is one of the major reasons why they are receiving applications in bulk.

Construction professionals are joined by financial managers and workers in the health care and hospitality sectors as those most interested in emigrating from the UAE.

These sectors have taken a major beating in the wake of the economic contraction as businesses took drastic measures to cut the cost of operations in order to compensate for declining demand and shrinking business volumes. Redundancies in these sectors were as widespread as in construction and property.

“There are about seven categories in health care and as many in hospitality. Open categories such as financial and construction managers are attracting many applicants from the UAE,” says Anup Suphia, the branch manager for Worldwide Immigration and Consultancy Services Canada that operates from Dubai Airport Free Zone.

He says the shortened period for the application process, social security, unemployment benefits, free health care and education for children are some of the attractions the would-be migrants do not get in the Gulf markets.

“They might be making less than what they make here [in the Gulf ], and end up paying taxes, but they become citizens and enjoy all benefits that comes with it,” he says. “Here they will always remain expatriate.”

There are more than 40 immigration consultants operating in Dubai and they are all are busier than ever, which is a reflection of how much interest there is in immigration, Mr Suphia says.

“It is even more difficult to qualify for immigration under the new skilled professional category system in Canada, but the interest from applicants is huge.” And those who do not qualify in the 38 professional categories to call Canada their new home have an option to apply to live there as investors. People with liquid assets of at least C$500,000 (Dh1.7 million) can be classified as investors. Consultants in Dubai say they are getting more applicants in that category.

The Canadian authorities, undeterred by economic contraction, are planning to accept a little over 250,000 new immigrants this year.

“The focus of the 2010 plan is on economic immigration to support Canada’s economy during and beyond the current economic recovery,” Jason Kenney, the Canadian minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism said last year.

The highest number of migrants the country has received in a single year is 429,649 in 2007.

The UAE expatriate population is dominated by South Asian and Arab expatriates, who in most cases have less than reliable economic buoyancy in their home countries. The security situation in their respective countries is another reason why expatriates are hesitant to move back.

“For example if a Pakistani expatriate is interested in immigrating to Canada, he is more driven by security issues than economic concerns,” says Mr Nellissery.

“But whatever the reasons are, the make-up of the labour market is changing rapidly.”

Jack Montgomery, a senior consultant at Stanton Chase International, one of the largest global executive search firms, agrees.

“The talent pool available is definitely shrinking. It is difficult to get the right people for the job.”

The main reason for that, he says, is the exit of middle and senior management from the job market when companies merged positions to cut costs during crisis days. Also, employees are now more interested in a “safety net”, such as an unemployment allowance in case they lose their jobs, a practice more prevalent in western countries and non-existent in the Gulf market.

“An expatriate from the European Union might be a little less stressed about having a safety net than an expatriate from an Asian country,” Mr Montgomery says. The pressure of losing a settled job and moving on to a new job market is the same for any expatriate, but Asian middle managers would consider it more favourably as they would have better social benefits in countries such as Canada, he says.

“Top managers are not really interested in immigrating to other countries for social benefits. Even if they lose jobs, they have the qualifications and experience to get relatively easily into a new job market with or without a social safety net.”

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